Since joining the Spanish Giants as a 12-year-old Iniesta has gone on to win no less than 21 trophies with the club and scored twice for his country in the 2010 World Cup, including an extra time winner against the Dutch as Spain went on to be crowned winners for the first time in their history.

Iniesta was also voted the Player of the Tournament when Spain retained their European crown in 2012.

The player has never spoken of a desire to leave the club, but with finances believed to be stretched there were fears from the stands that a big money bid would prove too much for the club to turn down in the New Year.

And with just 18 months left on his original contract, Manchester United were just one of a host of top clubs around Europe to be linked with a move for the Spain midfielder.

But Iniesta has poured cold water on any talk of leaving his boyhood club by signing a new three-year extension that will tie him to the Nou Camp until 2018.

Ever the nice guy of football, Iniesta also suggested , despite suffering a terrible group draw.